Avoiding Crowds at Walt Disney World

Our guide to Avoiding Crowds at Walt Disney World so you can have a perfect vacation no matter when you visit.

Want to avoid crowds on your Walt Disney World Vacation?

Disney World is busy!

Usually you will find it is very busy!!

On occasions it is very, very busy!!!

Magic Kingdom Crowds

No matter when you visit you will encounter some crowds. Sometimes the crowds will be light but on occasion they might feel unmanageable.

Although Walt Disney World will be busy during most periods of the year it is busiest in Summer Months, Easter, Thanksgiving, New Year, Independence Day & Christmas.

Morocco Epcot World Showcase. Where are the crowds ?

There are lots of websites telling you the best days to visit parks but our experience is they often tell you different answers and overall Disney World seems to be getting busier. Events such as the Food & Wine Festival now drag people to the parks during traditionally quiet periods.

Bigger crowds do mean longer opening hours but also longer waits. This does not mean you shouldn’t go especially if annual leave means you can’t go in quieter times. In our opinion you will have a great time no matter when you go! Plus you will always find an occasional quiet spot.

China Epcot

Our advice to avoid the crowds:-

Don’t arrive late! Getting early to a park might mean you queue slightly longer to get in but once in it will be quieter. By midmorning crowds will be at their heaviest.

Consider taking a mid afternoon break and return in the evening. Not only will it be cooler but crowds often will be lighter.

Riding Dumbo at night

Look at the crowd calendar on various websites to see if you can pick a pattern of the best days to visit specific parks. Our experience is these websites often offer conflicting opinions but by reviewing several you should start to get an idea of the best time to visit parks.

Make sure you maximise use of Fastpass+. Try and get a reservation for all your must-do attractions. Make sure your reservations are used before lunch so you can start making more Fastpass selections.

7 Dwarf Minetrain a Fastpass essential or face a long wait

Book your dining reservations in advance. Try and get a reservation near where you will be so you have more park time. Don’t leave dining to chance and attempt to find an available standby line. Plus why not eat at a different time to everyone else? At 4:00 pm parks will be crowded but restaurants quiet.

Use the Single Rider line. Available in far too few attractions but a great way to avoid crowds.

Rock N Roller Coaster use the Single Rider Line

Avoid parks with Extra Magic Hours even if you are staying in a Disney Resort. The only caveat it to this is to get there for opening of EMH. If you are late go elsewhere.

Avoid the parades! OK you might want to see these but if you don’t the rides will be quieter.

Festival of Fantasy Parade is it worth Skipping?

Schedule plenty of breaks and make sure you drink plenty of water. Crowds always seem worse when you are tired and dehydrated.

Create a good plan which can be easily altered if unexpected events occur. Events do occur e.g. bad weather or sickness have some spare capacity so you can catch up.

Don’t miss meeting characters out of your plan.

Make sure you have the My Disney Experience App. Filled with handy features the app lets you view and update your plans, make dining reservations, search maps of all 4 theme parks, get real-time attraction wait times and more. Plus with free WiFi now available throughout Walt Disney World you can reach this information anywhere.